Page 102 of Forced Into Your Arms
“No…” he raised a brow. “I mean…” I closed my eyes for a second. “Not like that. I was just asking if you wanted something to drink.”
“I know what you asked… and I’m asking you… you want me to stay?”
I looked up at him, and he was looking down at me with an intense stare.
The room suddenly felt quieter than it had a few seconds ago. Vice stood several feet away, but the space between us felt smaller.
“I had a good time, Vice…” I whispered.
“So did I…”
Vice took a few steps toward me and for some reason, my breathing thickened as my pulse started racing. I felt like I was suffocating right now.
“I shouldn’t say this.” He paused, running his tongue over his bottom lip. “But, you know I didn’t like those flowers, right?”
I stared up at him, surprised by how easily he admitted that. Trying hard not to blush, I asked, “Why?”
“You know why…” Maybe I did, but I wanted to hear him say it. The problem was, I wasn’t sure what I planned to do if he did. Instead of answering me, he asked a question of his own. “You want him back?”
“Hell no.”
“You sure?”
“Very.”
“Then I don’t like him sending you shit like he still got a place in your life.”
My heart started beating a little faster, and I hated how aware I suddenly became of everything. How close he was standing. The way his voice had lowered. The fact that neither one of us was smiling anymore.
“That’s not really your decision,” I said, but there wasn’t any anger behind it.
Vice lifted one hand and brushed his fingers lightly against the side of my face. The touch was so unexpected that I froze.
He gave me enough time to move, but I didn’t, even though I knew I should have. His eyes dropped to my mouth before returning to mine, and I knew exactly what was about to happen.
The crazy part was, I wanted it.
I wanted to know what it would feel like to kiss him. I wanted to stop thinking about whether I should and just let it happen.
Then Evan flashed through my mind.
Ten years.Ten years of believing I knew the man beside me. Ten years of trusting somebody who had been building another life behind my back.
Vice wasn’t Evan, though, and I knew that. Still, the fear came before I could stop it. I took a small step back, shaking my head.
Vice’s hand dropped immediately.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“Don’t be.”
“I just…” I looked away, frustrated because I didn’t even know how to explain what was happening in my own head. “I’m not ready.”
Vice simply nodded and stepped back, giving me the space I’d asked for without making me feel guilty about it. “It’s cool… You don’t have to explain. Shit, I don’t know what I was thinking, anyway.”
Neither of us said anything and while he was still able to stare me down, I was unable to look at him.
“I should go,” he finally said.
